Former Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez, who survived two coup attempts but was finally forced from office as the first Latin American leader to be convicted of corruption, died on Saturday in Miami.
The 88-year-old served as the South American country's president between 1974 and 1979, and again between 1989 and 1993. Independent Venezuelan broadcaster Globovision said he died at Miami's Mercy Hospital of a heart attack.
"(His death) came as a surprise. He woke up today in very good spirits," his daughter Maria Francia told Globovision.
Perez's first term in power was marked by a massive inflow of petrodollars that saw the OPEC member nicknamed "Saudi Venezuela" by some, while his second was marred by corruption scandals, coup bids and the violent suppression of protests.
He became the first leader in Latin America to be convicted of graft and was forced out of office in May 1993, seven months before completing his second term.
He was sentenced to 28 months for the misappropriation of $17 million in public funds. He served the first few months at a low security jail in the capital Caracas, then was allowed to spend the rest of his term under house arrest due to his age.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.